Follow along on Style Me Pretty!

Our very own (and loved-to-pieces) Andrea was featured on none other than, drum roll please... Style Me Pretty! Style Me Pretty is one of the most fan-flippin'-tastic wedding blogs out there. And Andrea, who is the main voice behind our Gwyneth Paige blog, was asked to be their guest blogger. We are thrilled, thrilled, thrilled! Yep, that is three times thrilled.

Remember the heavenly July beach wedding we did this past summer? The one that you could stare at on a cold day like today and feel happy instantly? That is the one. Andrea has posted up all the gorgeous photos captured by Jen Kroll for your enjoyment. The calm, beautiful beach and the amazing flowers will warm you right up. I promise.

Yesterday, both the first and second posts went up. And there are more to come, so keep watching!

~ Jillian

That's Market Research?

I just read the most wonderful post over on Sasha Souza's blog, Sparkliatti, and I had to share it with you.

This very thing has happened to me three times in the last 6 weeks and it's so disappointing. What many of these people who 'inquire' about our services don't know is that it's pretty easy to track down who the request is coming from. And I do know who you are. However, I have graciously given out the information because really, it's not a trade secret.

Here's the thing. I'm an honest, straight forward kinda girl. If you want to know what we charge, then just ask. BUT, and this is a capital B-U-T, as Sasha said, 'I'm not you, and you're not me.' We've got different business models , different gifts and different levels of experience. We all do things a little bit different and that is good because we're all perfect for someone. And not perfect for everyone.

Do read her post. I had the chance to meet Sasha last year at a conference and she's one of the most honest people we have in this industry. And it's refreshing!

~Jodi

Notes from the Future "Mrs." - Luxury is in the details

When I ordered my Save the Dates, I also ordered liners for my envelopes. This was a detail that we decided was a "must have". There is something about beautifully lined envelopes that feel so luxurious. And I knew I wanted to start my wedding off with gorgeous Save the Dates enclosed inside beautifully lined envelopes.

Sometimes, the more detailed you get with any element in your wedding ...the deeper you have to dig into your pocket. This includes invitation add-on's (like envelope liners, for example). What is the solution to this budget-pressing problem? Make your own liners! Sure, it takes a little time and care, but the result is beautiful and your options are endless. Just a trip to the craft store and you can have any colored or printed paper that suits you. Your guests will love receiving these in the mail!

For a step-by-step tutorial on how to line your envelopes, check out the following:
1. Wedding Crafter
2. Bird Cage Cards

And to purchase an envelope liner template kit, visit Paper Source.

~Jillian

photo credit - Smock

Adding Flare to Wedding Shoes {No design skills required!}

I have been tirelessly searching for the perfect shoe to wear on my wedding day. And can I just tell you that finding that "perfect wedding shoe" has felt next to impossible? Sure, there are plenty of great designer shoes out there {Stuart Weitzman is always a fave}, and even some decent finds on Ebay. But nothing seems to be floating my boat these days.

My original thought was to settle for something basic. And that is when the thought of a customizable option came to mind. Naturally, I hopped onto Etsy to see what I could find. And as luck would have it, I found these. Adorable, ruffled clips that you can add onto any simple shoe. How perfect are they! Especially since I have ruffle details floating all throughout my wedding.




Now, I know not every bride or client wants ruffles. But not to fear! There are tons of options. Some with a little bling, some with texture, some with fun colors, and some that are just flat-out pretty.



Whatever your preference, there are truly enough styles to go around. These are even great to switch up the style on your basic pumps. You know, the ones you have in your closet that you have worn over and over {and over} again! The ones you absolutely refuse to toss out. How great is it that most clips costs less than $25? That is a lot less than buying a brand new pair of shoes. And you can change them from one pair of shoes to the next. Flats, heels, even sandals ...you name it. Sounds like the perfect win-win situation to me.

~ Jillian

Kara's Bridal Tea

When my sister Kara got married, I threw her a wonderful bridal tea party. It was full of lovely details, including my much-cherished tea cup collection as well as my milk glass and vintage plate collections. And since I never got a chance to share the photos with you before, I wanted to show you now. {Seriously, the girl just had a baby 7 weeks ago and I think I did this shower over two years ago!}

Are you playing hostess anytime soon? Maybe it will spark some an ideas for a shower you are throwing, or even just a gathering with your favorite friends.

~ Jodi

images: ryan prins photography
floral: modern day floral
cake: sweet cakes design

BREAKING NEWS!

Two posts in one day? Shocking, I know! But this was just too good to wait and announce on Tuesday! You remember that other company that we've been working so hard to develop? You know, the one called Gwyneth Paige {couture letterpress}? Yeah, that one! Well, if you follow that blog, you know what a fantastic job our Creative Director, Andrea, does with all of her posts. She's a natural, our Andrea. And we love every ounce of her!

I'm so excited to announce that Andrea will be a weekly guest blogger on Style Me Pretty on behalf of Gwyneth Paige {couture letterpress}. Yes, you read that right! Beginning today, she'll post twice a week for the amazing Abby over at SMP. We've known about this for a little over a week now but have had to keep it under wraps. Andrea applied for this opportunity about a month ago and amongst hundreds of applicants, she was one of just a few that was asked to write for this ultimate wedding blog.

You can only image how excited and proud we are. Andrea is such a vital part of Gwyneth Paige and who we are as a company. Andrea loves this company as much as I do. We all give 110% and I could not tackle this ginormous venture without her.

Please join me in congratulating Andrea!

~Jodi

Be a Beautiful Bride

Nathan and I went out for dinner on Saturday night and stopped in Barnes and Noble to look around {one of our favorite things to do together}. I, of course, bolted to the wedding section and Nathan went to the religion section. Amongst a lot of not-so-good wedding books, I found this gem! I know, the title is as corny as they come. But I'm not kidding you, this book is genius!

What is it about, you ask? Well, let me quote the back of the book jacket:

'Every bride wants to look great on her big day, but where do you start? Packed with invaluable advice on everything from dresses and veils to jewelry and shoes, this book will show you how to walk down the aisle in style.

This book was written to help you find the perfect dress for your coloring and figure; discover the makeup and hairstyle best suited for your face; pick out stylish accessories to complement your look; determine what shape bouquet works best with the style of dress you've chosen; and how to pick the ideal color and style for everyone in your bridal party.'

I'm a tough sell when it comes to wedding books but this one is invaluable. I love it! And it's a perfect complement to the other resources that sit on the shelves of my ever-growing wedding library. So, whether you're a bride, a planner, or a vendor responsible for wedding styling, this is a book you need to buy. It's worth every penny of its $15 cost!

~Jodi